Patient lift stand



Sept. 22, 1964 l. M. SMITH PATIENT LIFT STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledApril 27, 1961 Sept. 22, 1964 l. M. SMITH PATIENT LIFT STAND 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1961 United States Patent O fr'tltl il??TAYD Ian M. Smith, Oneonta, NX., assigner to Medical Coaches, Inc.,Oneonta, NX., a corporation of New Yori;

Filed Apr. 27, 195i, Ser. No. 195,974 Claims. (Cl. 25d- 56) ri`hisinvention relates to a patient lift stand or platform, and moreparticularly to such a patient lift stand for use with X-ray equipment,photographic cameras or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a patient liftstand which is especially suitable for use with transportable or mobiletypes of X-ray camera equipment and wherein according to the presentinvention instead or adjusting the X-ray camera and tube to the patientsheight, the patient lift stand of the present invention provides a meanswhereby the patient can be elevated to the fixed height of the X-raycamera and tube installations, so as to permit advantageous use of thepresent invention in mobile units, stationary clinics, hospitals or thelike.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a patient liftstand or" the type stated which insures maximum efficiency with thelowest possible initial cost, and wherein the patient lift stand isconstructed so that there will be important considera le savings inspace, weight, and maintenance, the present invention being arranged andconstructed so that the entire mechanism can be readily transported orsecured as a retractable unit within a sedan delivery or similarchassis.

A still further object is to provide a patient lift stand which iscapable of advantageous and efiicient use in various applications andfor example it can be used within line or angle hood camera, and whereinthe present invention can be used for photo-lluorographic chest sureysin hospitals, health centers, mobile units, private clinics or the like,the patient lift stand of the present invention including an adjustablemotorized platform which permits patients to be readily raised andlowered at a comfortable speed, and wherein up and down movement of theelevating platform is conveniently controlled by a suitable switchmechanism, and wherem there is further provided an automatic cutol limitswitch mechanism for controlling movement of the platform.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such apatient lift stand that is economical to manufacture and efcient inoperation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading or" the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters and wherein:

FlGURE l is a perspective view of the patient lift stand of the presentinvention.

FlGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevationd view, with parts broken awayand in section showing certain construction and details of the patientlift stand of the present invention.

FlG-URE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FGURE l.

PGURE 4 is a sectional view of FlGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View talien on the line 4--4 taken on the line 55 taken on the line oof FIGURE 5.

of FIGURE 3 3,150,260 Patented Sept. 22, 1964 ICS FlGURE 8 is a Viewillustrating schematically the wiring diagram of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 2-0 indicates thepatient lift stand of the present invention which is shown to comprise ahorizontally disposed base 2l, and a conventional transformer Z2 isadapted to be supported on one end oi the base 2l, FIGURE 1. The numeral23 indicates a post or upright member which is suitably secured adjacentan end of the base 2l, and a xed X-ray tube 2d is supported on the post23.

As shown in the drawings, spaced apart legs or frame iemhers 25 extendupwardly from the base 21 for supporting a conventional camera 26. Thenumeral 27 indicates a hollow casing or housing which is supported onthe base 2l below the camera 26, and the housing 27 embodies a pair ofvertically disposed spaced parallel side walls 2 as well as a verticallydisposed end wall 29, and the housing 27 further includes a horizontallydisposed top portion 3@ as well as an inclined wall member 31.

The numeral 32 designates each or" a pair of brackets which are suitablyaffixed to the upper portion of the housing Z7, and a pair of bearings33 are secured to the brackets 32, and the bearings 33 are adapted tohave roller or ball bearings 3d therein, FIGURE 4. The pair of bearings33 are arranged in spaced apart vertically disposed relation withrespect to each other, and the numeral 35 designates each of a pair ofspaced parallel vertically disposed rods whch are slidable or adjustablein the bearings 33. A horizontally disposed crosspiece 35 extendsbetween the lower ends of the pair of rods 35 and is secured thereto inany suitable manner, as for example by welding. As shown in thedrawings, there is provided a platform 37 wmch includes an intermediateportion 33 that may be roughened or knurled so as to provide ananti-slipping surface for a patient standing thereon, and the platform37 is hingedly connected to the crosspiece 36 by means of hinges 39. Dueto the provision of the hinges 39, when the device is not being used,the platform 37 can be pivoted or svwang upwardly from its horizontalposition as for example to a vertical position so as to insure that theplatform 37 will be out of the way when it is not being used, wherebythere will be less likelihood of a person accidentally tripping orstumbling over the platform;

rl"he numeral il indicates a reversible electric motor that is arrangedin the lower portion of the housing 27, and the motor all drives a shaftlil which has a gear 42 thereon, the gear 42 being arranged in meshingrelation with respect to a gear 43, and these gears 42 and 43 areadapted to be encased in a protective box or casing 5,9, FIGURE 5. Theshaft 44 is suitably aixed to the gear 43, and the numeral indicates adrum or reel which is secured to the shaft 4d. A cable le has one endthereof atllxed to the drum 45. The cable 46 is also trained over apulley d'7 which is supported on a pin 48, and the pin 4S is adapted tobe supported by spaced apart elements 49, FIGURE 4.

The numeral 5l designates upstanding braces which are interposed betweenthe top portion 3,-@ of the housing 27 and the camera 26 so as to helpsupport the camera 26 in its proper location.

As shown in FlGURE 7 for example, the end wall 29 of the housing 27 isprovided with an elongated slot or opening 52, and angle irons or bars53 are arranged on opposite sides of the slot 52, and these bars 53 aresecured as by welding to the inner surface of the end wall 29. Thenumeral 54 indicates a limit switch which is suitably secured to one ofthe bars 53, and the limit switch 54 includes a projecting member 55that is adapted to be engaged by a tongue 58 so as to automaticallycontrol operation of the motor iti as later described in thisapplication. The tongue 58 is adapted to be secured in any suitablemanner as for example by welding to a pair of lugs 56, and the lugs S6are suitably affixed or secured to the crosspiece 36. The numeral 57indicates a pin or securing element which extends between a pair of lugs56, and one end of the'caole 46 is connected to the pin 57.

As shown'in the drawings, there is provided a switch mechanism which isindicated generally by the numeral 59,'and the switch mechanism 59includes manually operable members such as pushbuttons 69 and 61 whichcan be manually operated in order to control rotation or actuation ofthe motor 4t) so that the platform 37 can be selectively moved upwardlyor downwardly as desired. As shown in FIGURE 8 theV switch 59 isconnectedlin an electricalcircuit, and the numeral 62 indicates wires orconductors that are adapted to be connected to a suitable source ofelectrical energy whereby current can be provided'for actuating themotor 4t).

As a modification orralternative arrangement, instead of using the cable46V, aY chain type of connection can be utilized and when such a chainconnection is used, a lower hmit switch as indicated by the numeral 63is adapted to be used ,for opening the circuit when 'the platform 37reaches the lowermost position.

From the foregoing, it is apparentV that there has been y provided apatient lift stand, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in thedrawings, it will 'be seen that the entire unit as indicated by thenumeralrZtl may be arranged in a suitable location as for example in atruck, trailer or the other piece of mobile equipment. When a 55 of thelimit switch 54. The limit switch 54 is of the Vtype that opens theelectrical circuit when the element 55 is engaged by a member such asthe tongue 58, and when the platform moves downwardly, the tongue 58will move out of engagement with the element 55 so as to permit the vswitch 54 to automatically close the circuit to the motor 4@ as forexample when a pushbutton of the switch 59 is properly actuated.Electrical yenergy for'the motor 40 can be supplied from any suitablesource of supply as for example to the input wires or conductors 62,'and when the present invention is being used as part of mobileequipment, such electrical energy may be supplied from aV portablegenerator or the like. Or, whenY the present invention is being used ina fixed installation, the electrical venergy can be supplied froma'conventional source of current.

The platform 37 is hingedly connected to the crosspiece Y 36 by means ofthe hinges` 39, and this construction perposition contiguous to thecrosspi'ece 36.

patient isto be X-rayed,V for example, the patient is adapted to standon the portion 38 of the platform 37,

Vand then for example with the parts arranged as shown in FIGUREl, thepushbutton 60 of the switch mechanism f 59 can be manually actuated soas to energize the motor 3 40, whereby the drum lt-S can be rotated dueto the provision ofthe intermeshing gears 42 and 43, FIGURE 5. As thedrum 45 rotates in theV proper direction, the cable 46 will be woundthereon so that tension will be applied to the cable 46 which is trainedover the pulley 47,*and since the cable 46 is kconnected to the pin 57,and sincepthe pin 57 is secured between the lugs 56 which are suitablyfastened to the crossp'eice 36, and with the crosspiece 36 connected asat'39 to the platform 37, it will be seen that as the cable 46'is Woundon the drum 45 the platform 37 can be elevated. VThus with the patientstanding on the platform, the patient can be elevated to the properheight or location in order to permit the patient to be X-rayed by thecameral in conjunctionwith the fixed X-ray tube324.

The switch 59 may be of the type that causes the motor 40 to stop whenpressure is released on the pushbutton 60 so that the platform 37 can bestopped Yat a desired elevation and the patient can be held stationaryin a Ydesired location'in order Vto permit proper talringfof the X-ray.VY Y Y When it'is desired to :lower the patient, the pushbutton 61'can bemanually depressed and since the motor 40 is` of the reversible type,the cable 46 can have slack therein due to the Vopposite rotation' ofthe motor. 4'whereby the Weight of'the'patient o'n the platform 37 canreturn the Y Vplatform patient toa lower position Vin order to permitY.the patient toV step off the platform. The switch control for themotor may be such that the rate of ascent or desce'ntrcanrbeY controlledor regulated as desired so that the platform patient will'not move upand/ or downtooV Vfast Yorftoo slow. Y Y

" l In addition there is provided the safety switch54 which i serves toautomatically'open the circuit to the motor 4i) 1 when the platform 37Vreaches the upper limit of its travel Y .and this takes place due toVthelp'rovision of; the tongueV VVSS/"vvhich issecured betweenthe lugs56, since as the plat- 1 f form moves upwardly, Ythe tongue 58 cantraveler move y throughthe slots 52finrthe wall 29 of the housingV and Ycontinue itsv upward movement of the platform to cause the tongue 58Ytcri'mo'verinto engagementwith the Y'portion trol unit for'regulatingthe upor down movement ofy the "i" he slot 52 in the'wall 2.9 of thehousing 27 provides clearance for tieV cable 46 to extend therethrough,and in addition this 'slot 52 provides an opening through which thetongue 5d can move inv order to'actuate the limit switchrid aspreviously described. i

ln certain instances a lower limit switch 63 is adapted to be used, andsuch a lower Vlimit switch 63 may have the same general construction andoperation as the upper limit switch 54 and the switch 63 can be used forauto'- inatically opening the circuit when the platform reaches itslowerrnost position so that the motor Vwill belautomatically turned otwhen the limit of travel is reached-by Y the platform in orderto preventdamage to Vthe parts. i Y

While the present invention has been described for use g in connectionwith X-ray typeV of equipmen'it Yis to beY in different shapes or sizes.

Y As previously stated, a cable such as thercable 46 can be used aspartof the means for raising and lowering the Vlift stand platform, or achain drive or thelikercan Y i be used instead of such acahl'e"arrangement.` Y.Suitable The parts lcanrbe madeofany'suitablematerial andk bearings, Ybraces and the like Ycan' be used wherever Y,

desired or required. The switch 59 functions as a conplatform. f Thepatient lift stand t of the present'invention and for example VwhenV thepres- Vent invention isV being usedjas partlofa mobile clinic or i thelilre,.an electric generator can bek provided for sup- Y' plying thenecessarypower, and theVY unit may be wired for operation offYlocal'power sources whereV available.V

The patient lift stand can be mounted in. a vehicle so as` to provide aWalk through Vmobile medical clinic VwhichrisV Y especially suitableforbringingmodern clinicrfacilities diy, Y g

rectly to areas where they are needed most, Vand in addior ine presentinventionYV can be used in mobile or stationary installations.V Withltne lowest possible cost.

tion such a mobile unit can serve as a health center for community,school or rural programs, as well as function advantageously as disasterand/ or emergency clinic facilities, field laboratory, health educationunits or the like. Such a unit may be stalfed by a physician with one ormore technicians, and suitable accessories or miscellaneous items can beutilized in order to insure privacy for the patient during registration,health examinations or the like. The patient lift stand can beadvantageously used as part of a completely equipped, self-containedmobile health examination center, and the parts are arranged andconstructed so that there will be a compact, eiiicient and versatilemechanism. In addition the present invention is especially suitable foruse as part of the equipment in a .transportable X-ray installationwhich will facilitate mass chest surveys, or the like, and the compactarrangement of the parts permits the rapid processing of patients atminimum costs as for example in large cities and isolated ruralcommunitie The compact motorized platform and adjustable mechanisms canbe used with in-line or angle hood cameras and it has application forphoto-iiuorographic chest surveys in hospitals, health centers, mobileunits and private clinics. When installed in a mobile X-ray clinic typeof vehicle, mass chest survey programs can be brought directly to thepeople regardless of terrain at In addition the present invention can beused in conjunction with emergency radiography, and it is also adaptablefor mass chest or emergency radiography. The patient lift stand of thepresent invention can be used in a mobile clinic for various purposes asfor example in connection with health education in disseminating publichealth information directly in those areas where such information ismost desirable,

and such a mobile clinic will have a relatively low initial cost as wellas a minimum amount of expense in connection with upkeep or maintenance,and such equipment is especially suitable for emergencies as for exampleas emergency hospital units or the like. The present invention can bemounted in a trailer or a self propelled vehicle and lead linedpartitions may be provided for oering protection for the operator andpatient in various types of units. The patient lift stand of the presentinvention can be permanently located or it can be transported in avehicle and may be supplied as a complete integral unit, and it can alsobe supplied coupled to existing X-ray generators. rThe numeral 59indicates the forward and reverse motor switch, and the numeral 27indicates the power plant housing. The casing Si? is adapted to have thegear reduction unit enclosed therein. The raising mechanism for themotorized patient elevating stand is adapted to be controlled by atechnician or other person operating the equipment.

The motorized platform of the present invention permits the raising andlowering of patients even though such patients may be quite heavy, andwherein the platform can be moved at a comfortable speed such as twoinches per second. Up and down movement of the elevating piatform iscontrolled by the conveniently located twoway switch 59, and theplatform 37 stops at the extreme raised and lower positions to theprovision of the automatically cutoff limit switches. The tube 24 may beadjusted as desired, and the base 21 provides a convenient support forthe transformer 22. The complete transportable installation is mountedon the full length base 2l and the base 21 may be made of a suitablematerial such as a suitable metal and the parts can be readily assembledor disassembled for clinic or field service.

Primarily according to the present invention, there is provided apatient lift stand whereby patients can be elevated to the fixed heightof the X-ray camera and tube installation and this application permitsuse thereof in mobile units and stationary clinics or hospitals.Heretofore X-ray equipment has generally embodied a construction wherebythe patient is stationary and the X-ray camera and tube are adjusted tothe patients height, but

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the patient lift stand of the present invention permits greatereh'iciency at lower initial cost with a considerable Savings in space,weight, and maintenance. The patient lift stand is adapted to beoperated by the electric motor 4@ which has associated therewithreduction gearing and the cable drum 45. By rneans of the pulley system,the hinged patient platform can be raised or lowered as for examplewithin a thirty-six inch range, and the hinged patient platform isconnected to the metal columns or rods 35 which ride through thestationary bearings 33. The top of the housing Z7 not only has thebearing brackets 32 secured thereto, but in addition the top of thehousing helps support the camera 26 due to the provision of the members5l. By mounting the motor, reduction gear and cable drum on a wheeledmetal platform which supports the X-ray hood and camera, the entiremechanism can be made transportable or secured as a retractable unitwithin a sedan delivery or similar chassis. The present invention canoperate from the rear of a vehicle, or on a wheeled platform beneath atent canopy, or it can be readily wheeled into a clinic or hospital. Theplatform can be raised or lowered the desired distance in a very shortperiod of time, and the apparatus can be made portable so that it can bemoved from room to room or building to building where adequate electricpower sources are available.

The present invention thus provides an improved means for X-rayingpatients especially those X-rays pertaining to the lungs and chest, andwhile the present invention is primarily for use in mobile X-ray unitswhich enable a minimum amount or operators or technicians to take alarge number of X-rays in a short period of time, it can also beutilized as a clinical X-ray apparatus in ield hospitals, emergencymobile clinics, disaster units, established hospitals in any place anX-ray unit is needed.

The present invention is constructed so that the parts have a minimumamount of weight and size, and the parts can be readily dismantled andtransported, and in order to have a completely transportable unit, abase plate may be provided and wherein such a base plate can be extendedbelow and out from the actual elevating platform for the installation ofan X-ray tube on a sliding device for the adjustment of tube targetdistance as well as providing a support for the X-ray transformer suchas the transformer 22. In addition, the supports for the rods 35 mayinclude a hinge arrangement so as to permit these rods or columnsupports to be swung up to a horizontal position in order to facilitatetransporting of the patient elevating lift stand. The speed of theplatform up and down is controlled and held constant by means of thereduction gear assembly which is operatively connected to the motor andcable drum. The present invention is such that can be readily arrangedin small spaces such as in a panel truck, small trailer or other device.Also, with the present invention the camera face, photo-fluorescentscreen, platform and X-ray table head can protrude from the side, frontor bach of a small truck, trailer or other conveyance so as to permitthe bulk of the X-ray camera and stand to remain within the conveyanceproper. Also, the entire X-ray apparatus can be removed from the truck,trailer or other vehicle, so as to permit the mobile X-ray unit to beused in a field clinic, hospital or other suitable area as a clinicalX-ray and permanent installation.

AIt is to be understood that the present invention embraces or includesthe concept of the transportability feature of this stand, and inaddition the patient lift stand permits VX-ray equipment to be carriedin boxes for interisland or held clinic service. Y

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

l. In a patient lift stand, a horizontally disposed base, a transformeron said base, a post extending upwardly from said base, a fixed X-raytube supported on said post, frame members extending upwardly from saidbase, a; camera supported by said frame members, a housing 0n said basebelow said camera, said housing including spaced parallel verticallydisposed side walls, a vertically disposed end Wall, a horizontallydisposed top portion and an inclined wall portion, brackets affixed tothe top portion of said housing, a pair of spaced parallel Verticallydisposed stationary bearings secured to said brackets, a pair of spacedparallel vertically disposed rods slidably mounted in said bearings, ahorizontally disposed crosspiece extending between the lower ends ofsaid rods andrsecured thereto, a platform hingedly connected to Vsaidcrosspiece, a motor arranged in the lower portion Vof said housing, adrum spaced from -said motor, a gear reduction unit operativelyconnecting said motor to said drum, a pulley supported in the upperportion of said housing, and means operatively connecting saidcrosspiece to said drum and said means including a cable engaging saidpulley. Y

2.k In a patient lift stand, a horizontally disposed base, a transformeron said base, a post extending upwardly from said base, atxed X-ray tubesupported on said post, frame members extending upwardly from said base,a-carnera supported by said frame'rnembers, a housing on said base belowsaid camera, said'housing including spaced parallel vertically disposedside walls, a Vertically disposed end. wall, a horizontally disposed topportion and an inclined Wall portion, brackets affixed to the topportion of said housing, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposedstationary bearings secured to said brackets, a pair of spaced parallelvertically disposed rods slidably mounted in said bearings, ahorizontally disposed crosspiece extending between the lower ends ofsaid rods and secured thereto, a platform hingedly connected to saidcrosspiece, a motor mounted in the lower portion of said housing, a drumspaced from said motor, a gear Vreduction unit operatively connectingsaid motor to said drum, a pulley supported in the upper portion of saidhousing7 and means operatively connecting said crosspiece to said drumand said means including a cable engaging said pulley, an electricalycircuit including a manually operable switch for controlling operationof said motor, limit switch means also in said electrical circuit forcontrolling movement of the platform, and braces motor is reversible andfurther switch means for controlling the direction of operation of saidmotor.

Y 4. In a patient lift stand according to claim 3, whereinl there is aslot in the vertically disposed end wall of said housing, verticallydisposed spaced parallel bars alixed to the inner surface of thevertically disposed end wall of said housing on the opposite side ofVsaid slot, a pair of spaced parallel lugs aflixed to said crosspieceand said lugs projecting through said slot, a pin extending between saidlugs and said pin having said cableconnected thereto, and a tongue aixedto said lugs for selectively actuating the limit switch mechanism.

5. A patient lift sand `comprising a horizontally disposed base mountedin a mobile clinic, a fixed X-ray tube and a camera supported above saidbase, a housing supported-on said base below said camera, bracketsafdxed to the top portion of said housing, stationary bearings securedto said brackets, vertically V'disposed spaced parallel rods slidable insaid bearings, a crosspiece extend- Ving between the lower` ends of saidrods and secured thereto, a platform hingedly connected to saidcrosspiece, a reversible motor mounted in said housing,rand meansoperatively connecting said motor to said crosspiece, including meanscomprising a drum driven-by said'motor, a cable connected to said drum,a pulley supported in the upper portion of said housing'and said pulleyhaving said cable trained thereover, lugs aiixed to said crosspiece,there being a slot in an'end of said housing for the projectiontherethrough of said lugs, a pin connected to said lugs and said pinhaving said cable aixed thereto, a tongue axed tosaid lugs, a limitswitch mechanism forY Vselective engagement by said tongue and amanually operable switch mechanism for controlling actuation of saidmotor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent Lusby et al. a Feb. 2l, 196i

1. IN A PATIENT LIFT STAND, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BASE, A TRANSFORMERON SAID BASE, A POST EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, A FIXED X-RAYTUBE SUPPORTED ON SAID POST, FRAME MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAIDBASE, A CAMERA SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEMBERS, A HOUSING ON SAID BASEBELOW SAID CAMERA, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING SPACED PARALLEL VERTICALLYDISPOSED SIDE WALLS, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED END WALL, A HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED TOP PORTION AND AN INCLINED WALL PORTION, BRACKETS AFFIXED TOTHE TOP PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL VERTICALLYDISPOSED STATIONARY BEARINGS SECURED TO SAID BRACKETS, A PAIR OF SPACEDPARALLEL VERTICALLY DISPOSED RODS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARINGS, AHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CROSSPIECE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LOWER ENDS OFSAID RODS AND SECURED THERETO, A PLATFORM HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAIDCROSSPIECE, A MOTOR ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, ADRUM SPACED FROM SAID MOTOR, A GEAR REDUCTION UNIT OPERATIVELYCONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID DRUM, A PULLEY SUPPORTED IN THE UPPERPORTION OF SAID HOUSING, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAIDCROSSPIECE TO SAID DRUM AND SAID MEANS INCLUDING A CABLE ENGAGING SAIDPULLEY.